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Starting as a small research institute in 1934, Mitutoyo has grown into a global company that is known around the world.
It all began with the single-minded passion of our founder, Yehan Numata, who wanted to contribute to the world's development and people's happiness through business.
That aspiration continues to be passed down even today, in these ever-changing times.
Inheriting our aspirations, spanning the turn of the century
Timeline
Historical Events 1934 - 1953
1934
- Yehan Numata established a research center in Musashino, Tokyo, to domestically produce micrometers.
1936
- Founded Kamata Factory at Kamata in Tokyo and named Mitutoyo Manufacture.
- Succeeded in domestic production of Micrometers.
1938
- The company was restructured into a joint-stock company, and Yoshinori Numata was appointed president.
1940
- Established Mizonokuchi Plant in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, for mass production of micrometers, and immediately started production.
1942
- Gauge block prototype.
1943
- Capacitive electric micrometer prototype.
1944
- Established Utsunomiya Plant for mass production of high-speed film perforators, and immediately started production.
1947
- Established Hiroshima Research Center in Shiwa, Hiroshima Prefecture to preserve micrometer manufacturing technology.
- Micrometer production resumed.
- Automatic weight sorting machine developed.
1949
- Started trial production of Calipers.
1952
- Started production of indicating micrometers.
- "Snap Meter" production commenced.
- 3m outside micrometer (the largest in the world at that time) completed.
1953
- Grinding gauge production begins.
Historical Events 1954 - 1986
1954
- Yehan Numata attended the International Metrology Conference (USA), exhibited corporate products and established a foothold for exports.
1956
- Started production of Bore Gauges.
1957
- Started production of Profile Projectors.
1958
- Started production of Height Masters.
- Started production of Dial Test Indicators.
- Started production of Precision Surface Plates.
- Started production of Small Stainless Steel Calipers.
1959
- Separated the sales department and founded Mitutoyo Trade Corporation instead.
- Established Hiroshima Plant in Kure, Hiroshima prefecture, and merged with Hiroshima Research Laboratory aiming for integrated production of micrometers.
- Started production of Dial Indicators.
- Started production of Height gauges.
- Started production of Toolmakers Microscopes.
1960
- Developed roughness specimen for surface texture measurement.
- Started production of Large-Size Calipers.
1961
- Started production of Electric Dial Indicators.
1962
- Started production of Okoshi-system surface roughness testers.
- Started production of Dial Calipers.
1963
- Founded the first overseas corporation “MTI Corporation” (currently Mitutoyo America Corporation) in New York City, USA.
- Started production of electric comparators called “Mu-Checker”.
- Developed strain gauge system ultra comparators.
1967
- Numata Research Laboratory raised to a dedicated factory of gauge blocks.
- Established Hiroshima Molding Factory (currently Hiroshima Forming Material Plant) by separating the molding division of Hiroshima Plant.
- Started production of “Surftest”, which is an averaging-type surface roughness tester.
- Started producing Gauge Block Standard Sets.
1968
- Founded Sampo Messgeräte GmbH (then after Mitutoyo Messgeräte GmbH) in Dusseldorf, Germany.
- Yehan Numata was inaugurated as the chairman of the board of directors and Junzo Katayama as the president.
- Developed and started production of 2D coordinate measuring machines.
1969
- Developed and started production of three-point type Inside micrometer named “Holtest”.
- Started production of CMMs.
1970
- Established and started operation of Batoh Factory as Utsunomiya Sub-Factory at Batoh-cho, Nasu-gun, Tochigi prefecture.
- Started production of CMMs equipped with Mitutoyo developed linear scales.
- Started production of 2-column type height gauges with counter.
1971
- Toshihide Numata was inaugurated as the president.
- Started production of outside micrometers with counter.
- Developed horizontal-type CMMs.
- Developed (the first in the world) a contour measuring machine named “Contracer”.
1972
- Developed a table rotary-type roundness measuring machine.
1973
- Founded Mitutoyo Canada Inc.
1974
- Founded Mitutoyo do Brazil Industria e Comercio Ltda. and established Suzano Plant as the first full-scale overseas production base.
1975
- Mitutoyo Metrology Institute was opened.
- Started production of “Linear Scale” Units.
1976
- Developed a CNC CMM.
1977
- Founded Onomi Precision Corporation at Onomi village in Kochi prefecture as a cooperative corporation of Hiroshima Plant.
- Started production of “check masters”.
1978
- Founded Mitutoyo Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. in Singapore.
1979
- Founded Mitutoyo (UK) Ltd. in Andover, England.
- Founded Mitutoyo Mexicana SA de CV in Mexico City.
- Founded Mitutoyo-Messgeräte Leonberg GmbH, in Germany.
- Operations started in Shiwa Factory, sub-factory of Hiroshima Plant.
- Started production of Digimatic Micrometers, “MD Series”.
- Manufactured CNC CMM for NRLM-type large-bore thread gauges.
- Developed inspection instruments for dial indicators.
1980
- Yasuura Factory established in Yasuura-cho, Toyota-gun, Hiroshima prefecture.
- Started production of “Digimatic Height Gauges”, “HD Series”.
- Developed probe automatic exchangeable universal CMM “MBS” for roundness measurement.
1981
- Founded Sampo Nederland BV (currently Mitutoyo Nederland BV) in the Netherlands.
- Founded Mitutoyo Scandinavia AB.
- Started production of “Digimatic indicators”, “ID Series”.
1982
- Established and started operation of Kiyohara Plant at Kiyohara district in Utsunomiya as a dedicated factory for linear scales.
- Founded Mitutoyo Belgium N.V.
1983
- CT Laboratories opened in Germany.
- Started production of Digimatic Calipers, “CD Series”.
- Started production of Laser Scan Micrometers.
1984
- Developed optical microscope FS Series.
1985
- Yehan Numata was inaugurated as the Executive Advisor, Toshihide Numata as the chairman of the board of directors, and Yoshiteru Numata as the president.
- Established Miyazaki Plant (dedicated to gauge block production) at Tano-cho in Miyazaki prefecture and succeeded in production from Numata Research Laboratory.
- Developed portable surface roughness tester “Surftest 201”.
1986
- Founded Mitutoyo France S.A.R.L.
- Founded Micro Encoder Inc. in Kirkland, U.S.A.
- Started production of non-contact machine for measuring roll diameters.
Historical Events 1987 - 2019
1987
- Founded Mitutoyo Taiwan Co., Ltd. in Taipei, Taiwan.
- Founded Mitutoyo Italiana S.R.L.
- Renamed to Mitutoyo Corporation and merged into Mitutoyo Trade Corporation.
- Established and started operation of Shiwa Plant in Higashi-Hiroshima as a dedicated factory for micrometers.
- Established a subterranean institute building for high precision scales at Kiyohara Plant.
- Started production of non-contact CMMs (VS).
- Started production of measurement data network system “μ-net”.
1988
- Founded Mitutoyo Schweiz AG in Zurich, Switzerland.
- Founded Mitutoyo (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
- Developed and started production of ceramic gauge blocks.
- Developed a length measuring encoder “laser holoscale”.
1990
- Founded European Research Laboratory in the Netherlands for researching basic technology of measurement.
- Akashi Corporation, as a group company of Mitutoyo, took over the testing machines and measuring instruments business from Akashi Seisakusho.
1991
- Developed a roundness measuring machine “RA600 Series”, provided with analysis software running on a personal computer.
- Developed an XY position detecting encoder.
1992
- Tsukuba Research Laboratory established in Tsukuba, Ibaraki prefecture.
1993
- Developed an interferometer as the standard for gauge block calibration.
- Developed ABS Digimatic linear encoder.
- Started production of ABSOLUTE Digimatic Calipers.
1994
- Founded Mitutoyo Korea Corporation.
- Developed and started production of non-contact.
- CNC vision measurement machine named Quick Vision Series.
- Developed and started production of economy-type CNC CMM "Bright Series”.
- Uses environmentally friendly solar cells.
- Started production of ABS solar-type Digimatic calipers.
1995
- Norio Takatsuji was inaugurated as the President.
- Started production of ABS Digimatic Indicators.
- Developed a vertically-dual head differential-type gauge block comparator.
1996
- Founded Mitutoyo South Asia Pvt. Ltd. in New Delhi, India.
- Developed vision measuring machine “Quick Scope QS series”.
- Multi-joint typed CMM digitizer “spin arm”.
1997
- Established and started operation of Nakatsugawa plant.
- Founded Mitutoyo (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
- Founded by KOMEG Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH.
- Founded Mitutoyo Finance Europe AG.
- Developed and released CMM with temperature compensation function: “FALCIO Series” provided with analysis software for running on a personal computer.
1998
- Founded Mitutoyo Measuring Instruments (Suzhou) in Suzhou, China.
- Developed and released horizontal CNC CMM for in-line measurement MACH Series.
- Developed and released ultra-high accuracy CNC CMM LEGEX Series.
1999
- Founded Mitutoyo Association for Science and Technology.
- Developed non-contact laser displacement gage laser indicator “LI-4030N/5030T”.
- Developed the world's largest 35-ton vibration testing machines "NASD".
2000
- Founded Mitutoyo Finance Europe AG.
- Detector integrated surface roughness/contour measurement.
- Developed integrated detector hybrid surface roughness & contour tester “CS-5000”.
- Developed flexible measuring gauge for workshop use "QM-Measure".
2001
- Kazusaku Tezuka was inaugurated as the President.
- Founded Shanghai Mitutoyo.
- Founded Mitutoyo Sul Americana Ltda. Argentina Branch.
- Released integrated display/digital bore gauge, ABS digimatic bore gauge “CG-D100”.
2002
- Founded Poland Mitutoyo.
- Founded Mitutoyo Cesko s.r.o.
- Released moving-bridge-type CNC coordinate measuring machines “FALCIO-Apex2000/3000” Series.
- Released a micro part form measuring system “UMAP Vision System”.
- Released 2D vision measuring machines “QUICK IMAGE Series”.
2003
- Released world’s first CNC form measuring instruments series.
- Released digital height gauge with built-in absolute scale.
- Released IP65 coolant-proof micrometer.
- Released IP66 coolant-proof caliper.
2004
- Integrated Akashi Corporation, Meiho Engineering Limited, and Meioh Giken Limited.
- Founded Tianjin Mitutoyo.
- Founded Mitutoyo Hungary.
- Released ultimate absolute coolant-proof caliper “super caliper”.
- Released column-moving CNC surface roughness measuring system “SV-3000CNC”.
- Released world’s highest precision measuring microscopes “Hyper MF/MF-U”.
2005
- Founded Mitutoyo Indonesia.
2006
- Toshihide Numata was inaugurated as the Chairman & President.
- Released gauge blocks with thermal expansion coefficient.
2007
- Masashi Sakamoto was inaugurated as the President.
- Released ultimate digital micrometer “QuantuMike”.
2008
- Relocation detection system adopted for CNC high-precision measuring machines.
- Released low-priced, easy-to-operate measurement data wireless communication system “U-WAVE”.
2009
- Toru Nakagawa was inaugurated as the President.
2010
- Founded Mitutoyo Europe GmbH.
2011
- Released CNC measuring head “MACH Ko-ga-me”.
- Released Rockwell hardness testing machines HR-100 to 400 series.
- Launched non-contact line laser probe SurfaceMeasure606 for CNC Coordinate measuring machines.
- Released non-contact 3D measuring system Hyper Quick Vision WLI Series.
- Released high accuracy digimatic micrometer MDH-25M.
- Released contracer CV-4500.
- Released micro Vickers hardness testing machines HM-200 Series.
- Released ABS Solar-Powered Digimatic Indicator ID-SS.
2012
- Founded Mitutoyo Russia.
- Founded Mitutoyo Vietnam.
- Founded Mitutoyo Romania.
- Mitutoyo Leeport Metrology Corporation became consolidated subsidiary company.
- Released Compact size, separate incremental scale ST46-EZA Glass linear scales.
- Released Fiber Scale ST-F11.
2013
- Founded Mitutoyo Austria GmbH.
- Founded Micro Encoder Los Angeles, Inc.
- Released high precision height gauge QM-Height Series.
2014
- Founded Mitutoyo Philippines, Inc.
- Released high precision Height Gauge QM-Height Series.
- Released ultra-high accuracy CNC CMM “New LEGEX Series”.
- Released Contracer CV-4500.
- Released micro Vickers hardness testing machines HM-200 Series.
- Released ABS Solar-Powered Digimatic Indicator ID-SS.
2015
- Released high-speed, high-resolution absolute tape scale ABS ST1300 series.
- Released display unit for linear scale KA-200 counter.
- Released automatic measurement program generation software MiCAT Planner.
2016
- Acquisition of shares and commercial alliance for TAG Optics Inc.
- Acquisition of shares and commercial alliance for Mapvision Ltd.
- Founded Mitutoyo Optics Manufacturing America Corporation.
- Released IP67 ABSOLUTE coolant proof caliper.
- Released CNC vision measuring system Quick Vision Active Series.
- Released absolute linear scale AT-1100 series.
- Indicator inspection instrument i-Checker.
2017
- Toru Nakagawa was inaugurated as the chairman of the board of directors.
- Yoshiaki Numata was inaugurated as the president.
2018
- Released measurement data wireless communication system "U-Wave fit".
Historical Events 2020 - Present
2020
- Conclusion of Marketing Agreement with Shimadzu Corporation for Dimensional X-ray CT system.
- Conclusion of sponsorship agreement with professional basketball team KAWASAKI BRAVE THUNDERS.
- Released shop-floor Type CNC CMM "MiSTAR 555".
2021
- Released CNC Roundness/Cylindricity Measuring System "ROUNDTRACER EXTREME".
2022
- Released new generation ABSOLUTE Digimatic Indicator "ID-C".
2024
- Released ultra-high accuracy CNC CMM "Legex Takumi model".
Museums and History Centers
Experience the history of Mitutoyo and the evolution of precision measurement around the world
Take a look at our exhibition corner themed around the history of Mitutoyo, which has been at the forefront of the industry since its founding in 1934, and the evolution of precision measurement around the world, as well as through historical collections that have been recognized as part of the Modern Industrial Heritage Group by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Experience the history of precision measurement and measurement technology.
